Topics :: Pope Benedict XVI

Catholics attending Sunday services around the globe said they were heartened by Pope Francis’ recent remarks that the church has become too focused on "small-minded rules" on hot-button issues like homosexuality, abortion and contraceptives.

Pope Francis lamented that a "gay lobby" was at work at the Vatican in private remarks to the leadership of a key Latin American church group - a stunning acknowledgment that may confirm earlier reports about corruption and dysfunction in the Holy See.

While Jorge Bergolio has some political baggage, including questions over his role during a military dictatorship in Argentina in the 1970s, the selection of the 76-year-old archbishop reflected a series of history-making decisions by fellow cardinals.

Black smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Tuesday, signaling that cardinals had failed on their first vote of the papal conclave to choose a new leader for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics and their troubled church.

Benedict XVI greeted the faithful for the last time as pope on Thursday, telling tearful well-wishers that he is beginning the final stage of his life as "simply a pilgrim," hours before he becomes the first pontiff in 600 years to resign.

With the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, some in the LGBT community expressed the hope that the Church would engage in a meaningful conversation about LGBT rights. Others aren’t as optimistic.

The Vatican lashed out Saturday at the media for what it said has been a run of defamatory and false reports before the conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI’s successor, saying they were an attempt to influence the election.